Meet the Creators of Aida

AIDA - 15 OCTOBER 2022

Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), composed Aida, in four acts, to celebrate the opening of the Khedivial Opera House. He was paid 150,000 francs. The actual premiere was delayed because of the Siege of Paris (1870–71), during the Franco-Prussian War. Aida eventually premiered in Cairo in late 1871. Contrary to popular belief, the opera was not written to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, for which Verdi had been invited to write an inaugural hymn, but had declined.

Antonio Ghislanzoni

Antonio Ghislanzoni (1824-1893), an Italian journalist, poet, and novelist, wrote librettos for Verdi, among other composers, of which the best known is Aida. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Ghislanzoni’s scheme follows a scenario widely attributed to the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, even if some argue it could be the work of Temistocle Solera.

Franco Zeffirelli

Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli KBE Grande Ufficiale OMRI, known as Franco Zeffirelli (1923-2019), was an Italian director and producer of operas, films and television, and a senator. Most known for the romantic drama Romeo and Juliet (1968), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director, and his 1967 version of The Taming of the Shrew with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, his mini-series Jesus of Nazareth (1977) won both national and international acclaim and is still frequently shown at Christmas and Easter in many countries. In the opera world he signed the most celebrated Traviatas, Aidas and Carmens which to date still fill multiple performances at the Verona Arena. He created this intimate Aida production in 2001 for the 100th anniversary of the death of Giuseppe Verdi, specifically for the theatre in Verdi’s hometown, Busseto.

Anna Anni

Anna Anni (1926-2011) was an Italian costume designer. She was co-nominated with Maurizio Millenotti for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for their work in the film Otello (1986). One of her latest creations was the Zeffirelli productions of Tea with Mussolini and Callas Forever. Apart from her attention to detail, Anni was known for her timid character. Upon her demise, Zeffirelli would be quoted saying: “My Annina is a rare talent. When everything seems so difficult to create, she turns out to be the best designer I have ever seen. Now (that she’s gone) I feel lonely and scared.”

Vivien Hewitt

Award winning director Vivien Hewitt enjoys staging from baroque to contemporary with a strong emphasis on exploiting the actorial qualities of her singers. With over 50 opera productions to her credit in Europe, Asia, Latin America and USA, her expertise extends to costume and light design. Born in Ireland, she has lived and worked in Italy since she began her post degree research work with the Institute of Verdi Studies in Parma and the British School in Rome. Her latest stagings include La Bohème for Sugi Opera in Seoul, two different productions of Madama Butterfly for the Puccini Festival and the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Il Barbiere di Siviglia for the Carlo Felice, Tosca at the 5000-seat Yonsei Arena in Seoul, The Fairy Queen in Florence with the Maggio Musicale Ensemble and Rigoletto at Seoul Arts Centre. Vivien enjoys working with young singers and has organized over 400 concerts, musical and theatrical events where she has sought out and featured budding stars. She teaches university courses in Musical Dramaturgy and Theatre Production. Vivien Hewitt appeared for the first time at the Aurora with the acclaimed Tosca in 2018 and La Boheme in 2019. She has been instrumental with the Aurora securing this 2001 Busseto edition of Aida by Franco Zeffirelli.